Tube closure



n 9, 1940. G. R. OSTERHOLM 2,186,879

TUBE CLOSURE Filed July 5, 1939 Patented Jan. 9, 1940 UNITED STATES, PATENT OFFICE 2,186,879 TUBE CLOSURE H Gustave Osterholm,Hartfrd, 001m. Application July 5, 1939, Serial No. 282,895

3 Claims.

provide a closure including a pair of cooperating reciprocating opposed seal elements movable by oscillation of a cap and suited to controlling discharge of materials from a container associated "therewith.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel closure which, by reason of its structure, is well suited to the requirements of mass production and which can be made, if preferred, en-

tirely from plastics by conventional molding processes.

An advantage of the closure according to this invention is that it can "be'opened or closed by 75 the users same hand that is used for holding the tube. 3

Another advantage of the closure according to this invention is that, as hereinabove mentioned, the closure does not include separable 10 parts which might be lost during use of the closure and container.

A noteworthy feature of the novel closure according to this invention is that the appearance of the closure harmonizes with the appearance of the container end wherebyaesthetically satisfying assembly having a pleasant appearance without sacrifice of utility is achieved.

, Other objects, advantages and features of the new and improved closure according to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled 9 across the end of said neck intersecting said ori-' fice; sliding seal elements in said ways; and a cap interengaged with said sliding seal elements for causing movement thereof whereby rotation of the cap relative to the neck causes said seal ele- 5 ments to obstruct or close the discharge orifice or,

This invention relates to improvementsin clo-.

ment, although presently preferred, is provided.

solely by way of example of the practice of this invention and not byway of limitation thereof except insofar as the invention isrecited in the subjoined claims.

Referring then to: the drawing:

Figure 1 is substantially a side elevational view of the presently preferred embodiment of this invention, the closure being shown mounted upon portions of a conventional collapsible tube,

Fig. 2 is essentially a top plan view of the device illustrated in Fig. 1,

' Figs. 3 and 4 are vertical sectional views of Fig. 2 taken alongthe lines 3 -3 and 44 respectively showing the seal elements of the closure in closed and in opened positions respectively,

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view of Fig. 4 taken alongthe line 5-5, and

Fig. 6 is ahorizontal sectional view of Fig. '3 taken along the line 6-6.

Referring now especially to Figs. 2 et seq., of the drawing, it will be noted that the novel closure according to the present invention generally designated by the numeral l0 comprises a neck ll having rounded ,end portion Ha and provided with a discharge orifice I lb centrally located in the rounded end Ha and communicating with the discharge passage I lc axially extendingthrough the neck. The opposite end of the discharge passage lie of course communicates with the interior of the collapsible tube l2 integrally formed with the neck, essentially as shown. Diametrically extending ways I Id intersecting the discharge orifice 1 lb and extending across the rounded end portion II a of the neck I I receive the curved sliding seal elements l3 and l3a which are disposed in opposed relationship and provided with interengaging end portions l3 whereby, whenthe end portions of the scribed to facilitate movement of the seal ele-.

ments.

A hollow cap H fitting closely against exterior parts of the neck II hereinabove described and having near the base thereof a projecting annular shoulder [4a is freely rotatably held upon the neck by the inwardly turned flange l5 formed integral with parts of the tube l2 and overlying the flange essentially as depicted in Figs. 1, 3 and 4. A discharge port Mb isprovided in the cap l4 and is registerable irrespective of the cap relative to the neck with the discharge orifice Hb hereinabove mentioned, whereby, when the seal elements I3 and 13a are moved from the position obstructing the discharge orifice, as illustrated in Fig. 3, to the retracted position, illustrated in Fig. 4, the discharge of materials through the discharge orifice and the discharge port os freely permitted.

The inner rounded surface of the cap l4 overlying the rounded end Ha of the neck I l is provided, is is best illustrated in Fig. 6, with opposed segmental spiral cam grooves Md adapted to receive and engage with the projecting rider lugs I31) and 130 formed on the seal elements 53 and [3a respectively.

As will be obvious from the foregoing description, rotation of the cap M, which readily may be accomplished by gripping the narrow corrugated edge portion I40 thereof, causes the seal elements l3 and l3a to move either into or away from position of engagement depending upon direction of rotation, as the projecting riders i3?) and I slide in the cam grooves id as mentioned.

It is to be noted, as will be obvious upon examination of Figs. 2 and 3, that the abutting interengaging end portions !3 of the seal elements l3 and l3a project slightly outwardly through the discharge port Mb thereby facilitating cleaning of the closure after use.

ways formed in surface parts of said end; opposed interengaging sliding seal elements in said ways for, upon occasion, overlying and closing said discharge orifice; a cap fitted closely against exterior portions of said neck, having a discharge port registerable with the discharge orifice in the neck; and means connecting the cap and the seal elements in a manner such that oscillation of the cap on the neck results in engagement and disengagement of the seal elements with concomitant opening and closing of the discharge orifice the seal elements when in interengaged relation projecting outwardly slightly through said discharge port.

2. A closure for collapsible containers comprising a neck integral with said container having a rounded distal end with a discharge orifice centrally located therein and diametrically extending ways formed in surface parts of said end; opposed interengaging sliding seal elements in said ways for upon occasion overlying and closing said discharge orifice, projecting rider lugs one on each of said seal elements; a cap fitting closely against exterior portions of said neck, having a discharge port registerable with the discharge orifice in the neck, and having formed in internal portions thereof engaging with the rider lugs of the seal elements opposed segmental spiral cam grooves arranged in a manner such that oscillation of the cap on the neck results in reciprocation of the seal elements with concomitant opening or closing of the discharge orifice; and means for freely rotatably holding said cap on said neck comprising an annular shoulder on said cap near the base thereof and a flange mounted on said tube engaging with said annular shoulder.

3. In the combination of a collapsible container end and a closure of the type including an oscillating cap on the closure neck, the improved means for freely rotatably holding the cap on the neck comprising an annular shoulder on the cap near the base thereof and a flange on the tube end engaging the shoulder.

GUSTAVE R. OSTERHOLM. 

